Water and Planetary Health Analytics (WAPHA) global metal mines database

An estimated 23 M people live on floodplains affected by potentially
dangerous concentrations of toxic waste derived from past and present
metal mining activity. We analyze the global dimensions of this hazard,
particularly Pb, Zn, Cu and As, using a geo-referenced global database
detailing all known metal mining sites, and intact/failed tailings storage
facilities. We then use process-based and empirically tested modelling, to
produce a global assessment of metal mining contamination in river
systems, and the number of human populations, and livestock exposed.
Worldwide, metal mines impact 479,200 km of river channels and 164,000 km2
of floodplains. The number of people exposed to contamination sourced from
long-term discharge of mining waste into rivers is almost fifty times
greater than the number directly impacted by tailings dam failures.